Snow glider

ABSTRACT

A snow glider with a body shell having a convex bottom with reference to the surface. At least two skids are attached along the bottom so that according to the inclination angle of the snow glider the available skids in contact with the snow steer the snow glider with a weight shifting of the operator as the snow glider assumes a curve.

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 116,946 filed Nov. 23,1987 as PCT DE87/00023 on Jan. 2, 1987, published as WO87/04397 July 30,1987, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a device which is known as a snow glider.Presently known snow gliders are produced in various configurations andforms. The most common type comprises a plastic body with two parallelskids, and it is intended first and foremost for leisure timeactivities, like bob-sleighing. To steer these known snow gliders twosystems are currently being used. One system includes divided skids,where the front skid section can be adjusted in order to changedirection of the sleigh. The other system uses levers on the left andright hand side of the snow glider; which in order to change directioncan be made to engage the snow to create friction on the runway.Disadvantages of the first system resides in the steering mechanism,which is fairly complicated. Consequently, such a snow glider becomes anexpensive article. On the other hand, a steering mechanism of this typealso adds weight to the snow glider, which is a nuisance while pullingthe snow glider up-hill. Lastly but not least, such a device is fragileand consequently prone to damage. The second system because of itslevers damages the surface which means that on many down-hill tracksthis type of snow glider is not permitted to be used.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

As compared to the prior known structures, the invention is based on thetask of developing a steering control device for snow gliders on thebasis that simple weight shifting of the driver results in a directionalchange. As is similar with skis, the directional change of the new snowglider results through skids that are vertically inclined. While thisglider is going straight, the parallel skids remain vertical to thesurface and therefore no directional change occurs. As soon as weightshifting occurs and therefore the middle part of the skid reaches acertain inclination, an extra side skid which is provided with a moredefinite bent area which lies parallel to the main skid (there could beeven several side skids), comes into contact with the snow surface. Thesnow glider is caused to assume a curved track. The curve becomessharper and sharper, the greater the occupant of the glider shifts theirweight and therefore the attack angle of skids which are placedlaterally from the center of the vehicle are caused to contact the snow.The snow glider-body, to which the skids are attached, have a generallyconvex shape, especially with a wide horizontal cross-section. Thecross-section of the vehicle can also be round or any other preferredshape. The advantage of this steering device results in no friction withthe surface in curves, which results in a higher speed when goingdown-hill. The second advantage is the fact that the surface of the snowwill not be damaged, and the surface of the snow glider in contact withthe snow is so large that even in soft snow the vehicle will not sinkin. Additionally, during change of direction by shifting the center ofgravity, as it is the case with this invention, the driver of thevehicle has a far better control of it, since he always remains in thecenter of gravity. Therefore, this snow glider does not present thedisadvantage of other such devices that at a certain high speed in thecurve and therefore high centrifugal force the vehicle will be caused totip over. This snow glider will proceed with the corresponding skidsthat are in contact with the snow surface in accordance with the curveradius.

Slowing down in a curve is realized by oversteering in the curve as isdone in skiing, when a strong weight shifting takes place and thereforethe skids turn into the curve and remain at a 90 degree angle relativeto the direction of travel of the vehicle.

According to another embodiment of the invention the skids in the backpart of the snow glider are recessed. In this way the above-mentioneddirectional steering effect by weight shifting is even better, and alsothe twisting of the vehicle for slowing down the snow glider is furtherenhanced.

To make these braking actions or steering actions more pronounced, shortpoles like ski poles approximately 20 cm long can be used with the handsso that a further steering action occurs. On a level surface these polescan be used similarly to skiing for pushing the snow glider.

In order to facilitate the transport of the snow glider up-hill, adevice is incorporated on the snow glider chassis in order to pull italong. This device may include for example an opening in the chassis anda rope. If a lift is going to be used, one of the lift bars can be stuckinto the entrance opening of the snow glider, and since the center ofgravity is relatively far behind the point of attack of the lift bar,the snow glider will easily follow the lift tracks.

Another device for moving the snow glider could be a movable towing bar,which is brought forward from the chassis for towing it. This tow barcan also be formed as a roll bar or as a frontal reinforcement, and canbe fixed in any desired position.

Additional advantages may be gathered from the subsequent description ofthe figures as wall as from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the object of the invention is represented inthe drawing with variations.

FIG. 1 shows a boat shaped snow glider in side view;

FIG. 2 is a cross-section according to line II--II in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view elevational of a modification of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plane view of a variation of the example representedin FIGS. 1 and 3;

FIG. 5 is a side view of another variation according to FIG. 1 where thebottom is detachable; and

FIGS. 6-9 illustrate a further variation in different views.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, a boat or kayak shaped device is represented invarious views that can be used as a snow glider. This "boat" has a bodyshell 1 which has a bottom 2 and an entrance opening 3 for the vehicleoperator. Within the vehicle 1 a seating accommodation is provided,which is not shown in detail. On the bottom 2 of the snow glider thereare provided parallel skids or runners 4 in a lengthwise configuration,on which the snow glider rests on the surface, so that depending on theangle of the body shell in reference to the ground only part of theseskids touch the ground, thus varying the length and number of skids incontact with the snow. These skids 4 do not end at the rear end ofbottom 2 of the snow glider so that the back part of the bottom 2remains smoothly rounded but are arranged to extend towards the front.This can be seen especially clearly on FIGS. 1 and 2, where the snowsurface is given the number 5. The skids 4 in this embodiment areintegrated into the bottom 2.

In FIG. 3 there is shown another embodiment of the snow glider, wherethe skids 4 are arranged to extend outwardly at 10 from the curved areas2 of the boat bottom. As shown, the runners are formed as a part of thebody, which includes spaced outward protrusions separated by oval shapedindentations. By this, on one side friction can be reduced to a minimumby enlarging the distance from the skid bottom part to bottom 2. On theother side one does not necessarily need additional skids as long as thesynthetic material of the snow glider is hard enough.

In FIG. 5 a further embodiment is shown with the bottom 14, whichincludes separately spaced skids 4 that can be secured together by anysuitable means and secured to the chassis 1. In this concept the skidsare connected by straps or any suitable fastening means to the surfaceof the vehicle. In this embodiment it is possible to use the snow gliderin summer on water, and in winter as a snow glider.

As also described in the above-mentioned embodiment shown in FIG. 5 onthe body shell 1 an eyelet 16 is provided with a rope 17, in order to heable to tow the vehicle.

In FIGS. 6 to 9 a further embodiment is depicted with a relatively shortand compact body 1, where at the sides 19 and 20, bulges 21, 30 and 31can be seen. Bulges 21, 30 and 31 are of increasing longitudinal lengthfrom the back-to-front and from the outermost bulge to a central section32. The bulges are formed in stepped form with horizontal bottom facesand upper surfaces with vertical walls extending from one bulge to thenext bulge, and on to the bottom bulge. The bulges are somewhat roundedin the longitudinal direction from their uppermost part to the lowermostpart on the front end. Not only are the bulges formed in stepped form,but the front ends of each of bulges 30, 31 and 32 are contoured fromits adjacent bulge to the boat bottom such that they merge with a smoothtransition on the front, as seen in FIG. 9. On the top of these bulges21, 30 and 31 turning joints 22 are provided in which the opposite freeends of a tow bar 23 are pivotally arranged over the opening of thebody 1. Whereas in the front part of the body 1, the sidewalls 24 arerather flat, the side walls 25 in the area behind the bulge 21 is muchhigher. Therefore, it offers the driver protection as well as lateralbody contact.

In an extreme angle of the snow glider the bulges 21, 30 and 31 comeinto contact with the snow and this results in friction and slowing downthe snow glider with a stronger curve around the bulges 21, 30 and 31.In addition with the inclusion of the bulges the sides 19 and 20 of thebody 1, the entire structure becomes more rigid.

In FIG. 6, there is a perspective representation of the snow glider, thetow bar 23, which is shown in a frontal position, is represented here ina position extending slightly upwards, whereas the bar 26 of a tow liftis shown, for example, as being in engagement with the tow bar. As shownin FIGS. 6 to 9 the standard or lowered position of the tow bar 23 hasthe function of a frontal protection for the vehicle and can be fixed orlocked in this position. The fastening can be reached either through astepped securing system in the area of joint 22 or by another device,which is not represented. The tow bar can also be used as a roll bar oras a handle for the driver.

In FIG. 7 the body as shown in FIG. 6 is shown from the bottom. In FIG.8 a side view is shown, and in FIG. 9 a front view is shown. As it isespecially visible in FIG. 7, the skids have very pointed edges whosefunction is enhanced by a lateral inclination of the snow glider andthus results in a special directional stability of the device.

All characteristics of the description, of the claims or characteristicsof the drawings can be of importance either individually or in anycombination.

I claim:
 1. A snow glider comprising a body having front and aft ends toaccommodate at least one person, said body having a vertical transversecross section of an ellipsoid configuration and having a longitudinaland transverse convex bottom provided with runners extending therefrom,said runners having a longitudinal extent and being disposed on saidbottom in parallel spaced relation from said front end to a pointremoved from said aft end thereof, whereby said person can shift hisweight rearwardly to lift said runners from the snow for steering.
 2. Asnow glider as claimed in claim 1, in which said bottom has concavesurfaces provided transversely thereof defined between adjacent runners.3. A snow glider as claimed in claim 1, in which said runners aredisposed normal to said bottom.
 4. A snow glider according to claim 1,in which said runners (4) are individual skid elements attached to saidbottom (2).
 5. A snow glider according to claim 1, in which said runners(10) are formed integrally as a portion of said bottom.
 6. A snow glideraccording to claim 1, in which said body includes a front section and aback section, said back section lying behind a center of gravity of saidbody and said runners extend only along said front section.
 7. A snowglider according to claim 1, in which means are provided for towing thesnow glider which are integrated into the body (1).
 8. A snow glidercomprising a body having an open hull with a bottom portion, a frontportion and an aft portion to accommodate at least one passenger, saidopen hull being configured along a gunwale thereof forwardly from theaft portion in a substantially ovoid shape with a truncated aft portion,a tow bar having an arcuate configuration complementary to a shape ofsaid gunwale is pivotably supported at one end thereof on a mountingmeans disposed adjacent said truncated aft portion, said bottom portionof said open hull having oppositely disposed pairs of parallel spacedrunners extending along its bottom portion forwardly beginning a shortdistance from said truncated aft portion, and said pairs of runnersincrease in length in series from an upper pair of runners to a bottomcentral keel runner, each of said runners having horizontal bottom faceswith vertical edges extending to the horizontal face of an adjacentrunner, said runners thus have a serially stepped configuration, each ofsaid pairs of runners and said central keel runner merging with saidfront portion of said body in a smooth transition from an uppermost edgeto a lowermost edge, whereby said passenger can shift their weightrearwardly toward the aft portion to allow the hull to be steered.
 9. Asnow glider according to claim 8, in which arcuate deceleration means(21) are disposed on said open hull in an area of a center of gravity,and the deceleration means come into play to create friction during anoccurrence of extreme tilting of said open hull during turning.
 10. Asnow glider as claimed in claim 8, in which said runners are integrallyformed into said open hull.
 11. A snow glider comprising a body havingan open hull with a bottom portion, a front portion and an aft portionto accommodate at least one passenger, said open hull being configuredalong a gunwale thereof forwardly from the aft portion in asubstantially ovoid shape with a truncated aft portion, said bottomportion of said open hull having oppositely disposed pairs of parallelspaced runners extending along its bottom portion forwardly beginning ashort distance from said truncated aft portion, and said pairs ofrunners increase in length in series from an upper pair of runners to abottom central keel runner, each of said runners having horizontalbottom faces with vertical edges extending to the horizontal face of anadjacent runner, said runners thus have a serially steppedconfiguration, each of said pairs of runners and said central keelrunner merging with said front portion of said body in a smoothtransition from an uppermost edge to a lowermost edge, said runnersextend longitudinally from said open hull aftwardly in a smoothtransition to a rounded hull form between the aft end of said runnersand said truncated aft portion, whereby said passenger can shift theirweight rearwardly toward the aft portion to allow the hull to besteered.
 12. A snow glider according to claim 11, in which arcuatedeceleration means (21) are disposed on said open hull in an area of acenter of gravity, and the deceleration means come into play to createfriction during an occurrence of extreme tilting of said open hullduring turning.
 13. A snow glider as claimed in claim 11, in which saidrunners are integrally formed into said open hull.